Learn About Raingardens and Help Install One

Community members can learn about raingardens and how to build one at two community meetings this August.

Friday, August 7: First Friday Forum
6:30 pm potluck dinner
7:30 pm presentation and Q&A at 7:30pm.
– OR –
Wednesday, August 12 at 7pm
The First Unitarian Universalist Church
93 W. Weisheimer Rd. in Clintonville

Friends of the Lower Olentangy Watershed (FLOW) and The First Unitarian Universalist Church (UUC) will host a meeting Wednesday, August 12 at 7pm at the UUC, 93 W. Weisheimer Rd. in Clintonville, where community members can learn about raingardens and sign up to help construct and install a large raingarden on the church grounds. Franklin County Soil and Water Conservation District Raingarden Specialist Stephanie Sutter, Urban Wild Raingarden Landscape Architect Amy Dutt, and Storm Water Specialist Joe Tribble will offer a presentation about raingardens, explain the design of the large raingarden and water catchment system to be built at the church, and answer questions about raingarden and water catchment design and installation.

Community members can sign-up at the meeting for hands-on learning at the UUC raingarden installation, set to begin August 31. Raingardens will also be the topic of the UUC First Friday Forum, Friday, August 7 at the church, with a potluck dinner at 6:30pm and a presentation and question-and-answer session at 7:30pm. Community members are welcome to attend the dinner and forum, where there will be a chance to sign up to help install the UUC raingarden.

The raingarden and water catchment system to be installed at the UUC is thanks to a $10,000 grant sponsored by MillerCoors and RiverNetwork, a national non-profit organization focused on water quality. This demonstration raingarden and water catchment installation is step one in FLOW’s goal of 10 similar projects at local schools, churches, small businesses and other institutions by 2012.

Rain gardens are specially designed and planted gardens which collect rainwater and allow it to percolate slowly into the soil, reducing storm water run-off and preventing pesticides, petroleum products and other pollutants from being swept into our local watershed. Raingardens also keep stormwater from overloading the local sewer system and overflowing into local waterways.

A team including FLOW members and UUC members is creating a design for the rain garden and a water catchment system for roof run-off on the church’s property at 93 W. Weisheimer Road. Construction will begin with hardscaping the week of August 31 – September 6. Volunteers with experience operating a mini-excavator and building stone retaining walls are needed. Plant installation will take place Sunday August 13 from 2pm – 5pm. For more information contact Amy Mallat at FLOW Soaking It In project coordinator, at 614-302-6715 or amymallat at juno dot com.